The head of the Dubai Labor Court, Judge Jamal Al Jabri, told «Emirates Today» that the index of labor cases registered with the court has decreased since the beginning of this year, despite the repercussions of the Corona virus (Covid 19), which was reflected on the labor market, pointing to the registration of 4832 Lawsuit in the past five months, compared to 5074 cases during the same period last year.
Al-Jabri attributed the drop in the index to an exceptional effort made by the Standing Committee for Labor Affairs and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization to contain employment and solve their problems immediately, and meet all their needs, from food and drink, and return to their countries, especially those who were abandoned by their companies, and left them without providing their most basic needs, stressing that The humanitarian dealings by the state with these groups have had a good effect, and its results will show up well in the future.
In detail, Al-Jabri told «Emirates Today» the decrease in the number of labor cases registered with the court since the beginning of the current year that witnesses the Corona crisis and the difficult repercussions on the labor market, and the resort of some companies to exceptional measures, whether by reducing salaries or reducing the number of their employees.
He attributed the drop in cases from 5074 during the first five months of last year to 4,832 cases during the same period of this year due to several reasons, including the effort made by the Ministry of Resources, Humanity and Emiratisation to reach settlements between workers and employers, to ensure that any tension or need for Judicial dispute, considering that it is an achievement that is calculated by the Ministry, which took into account the interests of workers, and was keen to obtain their rights, and took into account the exceptional circumstances experienced by the labor market, and some companies are affected by the precautionary measures taken in the world in general, and by the state in particular.
He explained that one of the most prominent reasons for the decline is the remarkable effort made by the Permanent Committee for Workers Affairs in providing their basic needs of eating, drinking and medical care, pointing out that some companies abandoned their employees, but the state did not abandon them, so the permanent committee and the Ministry of Human Resources intervened and provided them with all What they need, and Dubai Courts participated in providing a number of meals during the month of Ramadan, as part of the great humanitarian initiative adopted by Dubai in providing 10 million meals.
Al-Jabri stressed that the humanitarian deal from this side eased a lot of tension and reduced workers ’fears, especially in light of the conviction of all parties that the crisis is exceptional, and above the ability of some business owners, noting that it is possible to increase the rate of cases after the crisis recedes and the economic repercussions remain for some time , Stressing that the court is prepared for all possibilities.
On the decisions of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation regarding the stability of employment in private sector establishments, Al-Jabri said that all decisions were in line with the Labor Law of 1980 and its amendments, and everything in the matter is that the Ministry was keen to clarify the alternatives available to the parties of work, whether companies or employees.
The decision stipulates that the employer should gradually take precautionary measures and apply the “remote” work system if that is appropriate, and he may not move to the second procedure, which is to reduce the employees ’salaries without their approval, and in the event that the“ remote ”work system does not match the nature of the work The company, moving on to the third procedure, is to give the employee a paid leave.
In the event he does not have a balance available from the leaves, he is granted an unpaid leave, then moving to the fourth and fifth procedures, which stipulate the reduction of the monthly wage temporarily or permanently. “In the event that the two parties do not agree to take the measures issued by the ministry, he may not take them. If the procedures are applied individually without the consent of the workers, the employee or worker may file a complaint.
Al-Jabri explained that these decisions are finally made by mutual consent between the two parties, and the employee or worker can complain to the ministry, then resort to the labor court if no prior settlement has been reached.
Regarding the Corona crisis being considered a force majeure, and the extent to which it can be exploited by companies to arbitrarily against their employees, Al-Jabri said that the labor court does not deal with a kind of generalization with all the cases that reach it in light of this crisis, and its judges cannot express their views on this, because they They deal according to a clear law, but look at each case separately, as there is a company that is actually affected by the crisis, and it can prove this by documents.
Al-Jabri stressed that the labor court is keen on separating first-hand all its claims, in anticipation of any rise in the index, based on digital infrastructure enjoyed by Dubai courts in general, in addition to the efforts of many colleagues to improve the work mechanism, such as a judge who is currently developing a program that relies on Artificial intelligence is to accelerate the outcome of specific cases, drawing on the introduction of prior data.
Reduced litigation time
The head of the Dubai Labor Court, Judge Jamal Al Jabri, said that 50% of the cases pending before the Dubai courts are labor cases, pointing out that the court includes the largest number of judges (16 judges), and you can dismiss many cases during record periods that did not exceed a month In addition to one-day suits.
He added that the court made proposals to reduce the time of litigation, such as establishing a center for settling labor disputes, similar to the Commercial Disputes Committee, stressing that the Dubai courts are sparing no effort in developing the work mechanism, and using the latest technologies necessary to speed up its pace.
4832
A lawsuit filed by the Labor Court in Dubai during the past 5 months.
The labor court is developing a program based on artificial intelligence to accelerate the outcome of cases.